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California Legal Requirements for Divorce


Explanation of Chart and More Information on Requirements for Divorce

Code SectionFamily Code §§2310 et seq.
Residency RequirementsOne party must have been resident 6 months and for 3 months in county where action is filed.
Waiting PeriodIf it appears there is a reasonable possibility of reconciliation, proceeding may halt for up to 30 days; no decree is final until 6 months from service or respondent's appearance, whichever is first.
'No Fault' Grounds for DivorceIrreconcilable differences; incurable insanity.
Defenses to a Divorce Filing-
Other Grounds for DivorceSee "No Fault"

Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

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